The Cape Dory Board

I'm late to answer on this one so I'll just unload all the information at once. We have a chart plotter at the helm that is always operating, and a handheld chart plotter as backup. We also have operational loran on the boat. Do I keep a DR on a paper chart? Of course, because high tech stuff, nice ...

Gotta' say there have been times when I wish I had kept my CD31, like when the brightwork needs redoing, the sails needed replacing, etc. No doubt about it, bigger costs more. But we wouldn't part with Mintaka short of a major catastrophe or health issue. I have not single handed her because Beth wo...

Judith: Here is a link to the mattress company. http://www.hmcwest.com/ Ours is the 6" firm latex foam model. You can also get them with inner springs. Last weekend our sailing group did a trip. On Sunday morning there was a bloody mary eye opening party at 0800 on one of the boats. We slept th...

We had a foam mattress custom made for the V-berth by Handcraft Mattress Co. in Santa Ana, CA. It is the most comfortable sleeping experience either of us ever had on a boat. It's been about 5 years, and the mattress is just as good as when new. We also had the cushions replaced in the main saloon (...

The issue here is how the boat performs in various wind conditions with the various sail configurations. The double headsail rig (I won't get into whether it is a cutter or not...) has the advantage of great versatility to meet a broad range of wind and sea conditions. If you are thinking of replaci...

This may have been said already, but if the vessel is not documented there are no rules for what you put on it as a hailing port. If it is documented, however, the USCG rules are simple and explicit. It must be a place in the US, and the name must be displayed on the vessel in letters at least 3 inc...

I let my subscriptions to Sail and Cruising World go because none of the so-called information applied to my boat. They seem to be nothing more than advertisements for large expensive boats. I gave up on Good Old Boat as well because most of the articles are either "Gee whiz, ain't we great&quo...

The March/April 2006 issue has an article on page 77 singing the praises of this product.

Great site! I immediately added it to my favorites.

I live in Oriental, billed as the "Sailing Capital of North Carolina," not far from Cherry Point. Sailing is a year round activity, but fair to say, you have to pick your days in January and February. I haul my boat each winter for a month or so to have the bottom cleaned, change the zincs...

Your question is really wide open, so you could get a lot of answers, and maybe even some useful information. The first question for you is why do you need a chartplotter? Folks who sail on small deep lakes certainly don't need one. On the other hand, I sail on the Pamlico Sound, where it is easy to...

If your handheld will be your primary GPS unit, don't even think about the gray scale, as it is too difficult to read in daylight, and nearly impossible in sun light. The color is much easier to read under those conditions. On the other hand, I use the handheld when I'm racing smaller boats where na...

I used to own a 32' O'Day that I chartered on the Chesapeake and on Lake Champlain. Yes, the income offset the expenses of owning and operating the boat, BUT...the boat took a beating. Even though the charterers were well screened, the boat NEVER came back without some damage, however minor. I sold ...

The forecast for SW wind for three days means the water on Pierce Creek will likely not allow Mintaka to get back to her slip, as I don't like to use the engine to push her keel through 8" of mud. However, I'll check out the town dock in Oriental Thursday evening to meet any CD'ers who might be...

All you need is a high pressure hose that will match the fittings on your tank and on your grill. The grill should already have a regulator, so you won't need another one. West Marine sells one for their usual outrageous price. In the 2006 catalog it is on page 744, "6" High Pressure Propa...